Swamp rat,

As you seem to have some sort of hearing impairment and simply doesn't pay any attention to what I say, I'm trying to get my message across to you this time in writing. So, here it goes: As much as I may find this continuous flirting of yours very flattering, and believe me, sugar, I do find it flattering, especially because it's coming from someone like you, who could probably have any girl he wanted, I do have to ask you – for the millionth, but hopefully last time- to stop this non-sense.

Sugar, you know about my powers, do you want me to make a drawing to make it easier for this stubborn brain of yours to understand? There's NO WAY I could touch you without draining the life out of you, so why are you wasting your time and putting all this effort in getting to me? I simply can't understand.

Secondly and perhaps most importantly, leave me the hell alone! Or maybe this is what I had been saying from the very beginning of this note which, oh well, just turned into a letter, anyways…

Remy, please, don't play games with me. I'd very much love to be your friend, but I can't be anything else but that. And hell yes, I get goose bumps when you whisper things in my ear, get weak on my knees when you brush my face lovingly with your gloved fingers, or eat me up with your hungry eyes, so please, just quit doing all that. Stop that, will you? Stop playing with me. It's not funny.

If after this, you keep doing what you do, I promise I'll try and make that illustration or maybe write you a book "Rogue's powers for dummies"

Apart from those inconveniences I mentioned, I like you. I still want to be your friend.

X

Ana

p.s.: I hate getting flowers, don't send me any ever again. I thought you'd be smart enough to figure out I'm not a flowers and chocolate kind of girl. On second thought, yeah, you can keep the chocolate coming.

Ma chére, ma Rogue,

Sorry if I have been inconvenient or troubled you in any way, I was just trying to show my feelings for you. I'm for real and I'm not toying with you, as you've suggested. I only think that you deserve to be loved and cherished like any other woman deserves, despite of your powers. Besides, you're fucking hot, and I just can't help it. I see you and my mind goes boom, other part of me goes boom too, but the gentleman that I am, I'm not mentioning it.

Anyways, just quit the nonsense, chére. You know Gambit is going nowhere. I want to be near, seeing your angry face and all the pouting, it makes my day. Cinema is still on tonight, right? I promise I'll keep my hands for myself this time. No accidental brushing of hands on you, I swear.

See you later.

Yours,

Remy.

p.s.: no more flowers, noted.

Dear Remy,

I know our fifth wedding anniversary is still two months away but I had to break the one letter a year thing. Tantie Mattie came looking for me, can you believe it? She said she had this dream of me, that it was some sort of prophecy. In this vision of hers, I would be nearly killed by a powerful enemy and that only you could rescue me from eventual death.

I know you well enough to imagine what you must be thinking as you read this. Something like 'And you gave Tantie any credit, chére? She keeps predicting stuff, stuff that never gets to happen.' I still remember what she said to you on the day before our wedding. Do you remember it too? Remember how she told you that you would be lucky in love. It doesn't seem like it, does it, mon amour?

I don't know why, but this thing she said keeps bugging me and somehow I feel it in my bones that this fate of mine is getting closer to coming true. I wish I could say something more concrete about it. I know all the questions you're going to ask, like who wants our head at the moment, if the Guild has any kind of issues with anyone that could harm me, but as of now, everything is going smoothly.

Anyways, I just wanted to tell you one more time and perhaps the last, who knows, that I love you and will always do. And if you have to rescue me, the damsel in distress, from the highest tower in New Orleans, please do. I guess I would appreciate that.

One last thing, I know I haven't commented on the girl you told me about, all I can say is, seriously, Remy! What the hell are you thinking? You can't touch her without being put in coma. Did I understand it right? I'm still here and you can touch me all you want. I guess you should see a shrink about that. Your self-destructive tendencies are reaching a whole new level with this girl. You could have it easy with me, but you have to go and choose hard core damn impossible.

Take care, my love.

Yours,

Bella

Dear Remy,

I hope this letter finds you well and happy with the new family you chose for yourself. However, I must remind you that your real family is still here and still loves you as always. At least I know I do love you and miss my little brother like an idiot misses the point. It wouldn't hurt you to come visit at times, would it? Ok, maybe it would. Are you still keeping away because of the exile thing? We could always arrange something about that, I'm sure.

Brother, I'm writing you because I need your assistance. Do you remember the Tithe Collector? I guess you must've been fourteen or fifteen that last time he came. He appears every seven years and stories of him are told throughout the French Quarter to frighten young children, mischevious as yourself were, that if they behave bad the Tithe Collector will come for them. Guess what? He's coming. For real and it is time for the Tithing and everyone has to be there including you, hot-headed little bro.

You should know that the peace has been broken since your last time here. Hasn't Bella Donna mentioned any of that to you? I thought you said you managed to keep in touch. Maybe she wouldn't be keen to tell you that your beloved brother-in-law, yes, he's not dead as you thought, has been stirring things up. Remy, remember this one thing: not all things are as they seem and nothing is more important than family. The assassins don't want the Tithing to take place and only you could stop them. I was hoping you could come over and help us out in this time of need, brother.

Looking forward to seeing you,

With much love.

Your brother,

Henri.

Author's notes:

So I guess now we have the ball rolling and there's more to the story than on the previous chapter. I'd love to hear what you think about where things are going.